1

Personal Protective Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment and Work Clothing for Pesticide ApplicationWork Clothing for Pesticide Application

Janis Stone, extension professor, Textiles & Clothing Department

Joyce Hornstein, extension program specialist, Department of Entomology

2

Use work clothing and personal protective Use work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect yourself fromequipment (PPE) to protect yourself from

The risk of acute pesticide poisoning Health effects from long-term exposures

Labels on agricultural pesticides that refer to EPA’s Worker Protection Standard require that certain items of PPE must be worn.

3

Exposure to pesticides can occur Exposure to pesticides can occur through…through… Eyes Nose

Mouth Skin

All formulations—liquid, powder, or granular—can be absorbed in clothing, thereby becoming a path to skin exposure.

4

Look on the pesticide label for...Look on the pesticide label for...

PRECAUTIONARYSTATEMENTS

Explains the type of personal protective equipment (PPE) and work clothing needed.

5

Work clothing includes...Work clothing includes...

Long-sleeved shirt and long pants

Underwear—briefs and t-shirt

Socks and shoes Hat with brim

6

TThe more toxic a pesticide, he more toxic a pesticide, the more PPE that is requiredthe more PPE that is required

CAUTION

Regular work clothes—long- sleeved shirt,long pants,

shoes & socks,waterproof

gloves

WARNING

Coveralls overwork clothing,shoes & socks,

chemical-resistant gloves,

eyewear

DANGER

Coveralls overwork clothing,

chemical-resistant gloves

and footwear, respiratory andeye protection

7

““Rubber” gloves are not all alike...Rubber” gloves are not all alike...

Disposable nitrile

Nitrile

Disposable barrier laminate

Neoprene

8

Glove materials differ Glove materials differ in resistance to pesticidesin resistance to pesticides

EPA chemical resistance category selection chart can be found on the EPA web site

www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/equip.htm The pesticide label shows a letter A-H that

corresponds to the right glove materials for that pesticide

Ask for the handout at the end of the program

9

Use gloves without linings!Use gloves without linings!

Unlined nitrile

Lined neoprene

NO

10

Measure your hand to find glove sizeMeasure your hand to find glove size

InchesInches7–8 small

8–9 medium

9–10 large

10–12 x-large

11

Use disposables for short tasksUse disposables for short tasks Disposables are thinner, can’t be adequately

cleaned, and can’t be reused Two types are barrier laminate and nitrile

Nitrile

Barrier laminate

12

Wash reusableWash reusablegloves with gloves with soap and rinse soap and rinse before you before you take them off take them off your handsyour hands

13

Use coveralls when required by labelUse coveralls when required by label Reusable—cotton twill

14

Disposable coveralls—some optionsDisposable coveralls—some options

Disposable or limited use coveralls are sold under brand names such as

Tyvek®

Pro/Shield®

Kleenguard®

15

Keep track of time; avoid wearing more than 8 hours

Not wash to clean Decide when to quit

wearing them and discard

Discard using rules for containers

For limited-use or disposable For limited-use or disposable coveralls it is your job to...coveralls it is your job to...

16

Aprons are a good idea Aprons are a good idea when mixing or loading when mixing or loading pesticides. They...pesticides. They...

Protect coveralls, work clothing

Are available in the same materials as gloves and coveralls

Should be material that can be rinsed

17

Eye protection is importantEye protection is important

Check the label! Find a good fit

Can wear over glasses

Goggles or glasses

should have brow

and side-shield

protection

18

Respirators required for some pesticidesRespirators required for some pesticides

Look at the label for the specific type of respirator required.

Dust/mist single use Cartridge

19

If cartridge respirators are requiredIf cartridge respirators are required

They must be professionally fitted and cannot be worn over a beard

Half-face Full-face

with goggles

20

Headgear protects from Headgear protects from exposure to pesticides exposure to pesticides and the sunand the sun Few pesticide labels

require headgear; if needed choose

Hoods that are attached to disposable coveralls

Hats with a brim Chemical-resistant hoods

21

An Iowa field study compared An Iowa field study compared headgear. Workers said...headgear. Workers said...

Baseball caps were best in fit, keeping on the head, and in appearance

Booney style gave good sun protection

Brims of Solarweave® Booney, and Tyvek® cover, flopped in the

wind and were hard to

keep on the headBaseball BooneyTyvek®

22

Alternatives to baseball caps areAlternatives to baseball caps areHeadgear with stiff, sturdy brims that fit securely Tightly woven straw hats with Solarweave® lined

brim or cowboy style

Full brim hard hat

NO

23

FollowFollow safety guidelines for cleanup and safety guidelines for cleanup and disposal of personal protective equipmentdisposal of personal protective equipment

Have a cleanup station with water, soap, towels, and clean PPE nearby

Dispose of worn out or leaky gloves and pesticide-contaminated PPE–should be cut up, so they can’t be recycled

–discarded as you would pesticide containers

24

Store pesticide contaminated work Store pesticide contaminated work clothing carefully before cleanup…clothing carefully before cleanup…

Store soiled PPE separately from other family items

Use trash bags, zip-close bags, or containers; label contents

25

To launder work clothing and To launder work clothing and reusable PPE ...reusable PPE ...

Wear rubber gloves Keep separate from

family clothing Wash daily and as

soon as possible after soiling

Prerinse or presoak and drain away this water before washing

26

For maximum pesticide removal…For maximum pesticide removal…

Don’t stuff washer with too many items

Use hot water Use high-water level

Use regular wash cycle, not shorter knit cycle

Use heavy-duty liquid detergent

27

Laundering additives are optional...Laundering additives are optional... Bleach, ammonia, and

fabric softeners neither help nor hinder pesticide removal.

Starch added to the final rinse may stiffen the clothes when dry, but assist with pesticide removal in the next wash.

28

Finishing up safely...Finishing up safely... Line dry if possible

or use the high heat setting on your dryer

Run washer through complete cycle with detergent and no clothes to remove pesticide residue before another wash

29

Two things not to do...Two things not to do...

NeverNever put chemical-resistant gloves in your washer or dryer.

NeverNever wash headgear or caps worn for pesticide work in the dishwasher.

30

Reduce your exposure to pesticides Reduce your exposure to pesticides and be ready for emergencies!and be ready for emergencies!

Call 911 for poison emergencies Post Poison Control Center numbers beside

the phone Choose and use the appropriate PPE

specified on pesticide labels Follow good cleanup procedures

31

Sponsoring Agencies Sponsoring Agencies

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa State University

This project has been funded by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency